Posts Tagged ‘Thomas Edison’

Be aware of the big difference between inspired action and activity. Activity comes from the brain-mind and is rooted in disbelief and lack of faith – you are taking action to "make" your desire happen. Inspired action is allowing the law to work through you and to move you. Activity feels hard. Inspired action feels wonderful. May the joy be with you, Rhonda Byrne

Optimism

We can learn from our leaders of the past. Thomas Edison’s great optimism gives us a quintessential example of welcoming disaster. On a December night in 1914, fire broke out in the film room of Thomas Edison’s laboratory. As his assets were going up in smoke, it would seem that this sixty-seven-year-old man’s spirit would certainly be crushed. Instead he saw the fire and shouted to his son, “Where’s Mom? Go get her! Tell her to get her friends! They’ll never see a fire like this again!” Later, he said,

“You can always make capital out of disaster. We’ve just cleared out a bunch of old rubbish. We’ll build bigger and better on the ruins.”

Thomas Edison could not control the circumstances. Rather than being heartbroken to see his life’s work go up in flames, he chose to welcome the opportunity to start over. Edison, known for his overwhelming optimism, is an inspiration for us today.

Whether positive or negative your feelings consume your mind, body and spirit and it is up to you (and only you) to try to improve your feelings or maintain positive feelings.”

Frank Mangano

What is abundance? If you have spent any time at all looking into personal development you must have come across this term so many times. But what exactly is it?

According to my dictionary, the word “abundance” means “the state of having a large quantity; plentifulness”. But a large quantity of what, precisely? Plenty of what? The answer, of course, is “everything”.

Or perhaps, more accurately, “everything that is good”. That is not the dictionary definition, which could apply equally to everything that is not so good. But in the way it is used by me and by everyone else involved in personal development “abundance” is only that which is good.

“Success isn’t something that you do on the outside; success is something that you are on the inside. The rest will follow.” ~Chuck Danes

This is a very important point to get your head around. “Abundance”, in the way in which we mean it, can only be good. If you can really take that in and accept it, you will already have removed one of the biggest blocks to abundance which most people seem to have. The belief that there is something wrong about wanting abundance, that it is selfish, that the things you want are not good for you.

If whatever comes to you when you pursue abundance is only good, then it cannot be wrong to want it. It cannot be selfish. It cannot be bad for you. Know this for a certainty. Believe it with your inner core. If you do, you will find it so much easier to achieve whatever you want to achieve. But if you do not, you will find it almost impossible.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~Thomas Edison

One thing that many of us pursue is “success”. Is it wrong to want to be successful? Of course not! How could it be? Otherwise it would be right to want to fail – and that certainly cannot be right, unless you mean as a step towards final success such as experienced by Edison. Most of us know this superficially, but deep down there is something in us that contradicts it. We see other people who have achieved what society calls success and notice they are not always happy and fulfilled – sometimes they are quite miserable and are very poor role models. Inside, we say “if that is success then I don’t want anything to do with it!”. Everything comes back, though, to what you mean by success. I would argue that none of those people are truly successful. They may have become famous, they may be wealthy, but they are not successful. Decide on your measure of success, ignoring what the world tries to say success must be, make sure it is fully aligned with your inner nature, and then go for it! You will find, if you do this exercise properly, that your definition of success is a good thing for you and also if you determine to achieve it you will.

Another thing so many pursue is “wealth”. Is there anything wrong with wealth? Again, of course not! Wealth is neutral when it comes to good and evil. Everything depends on how it is used. Look at how Bill Gates has chosen to use his wealth for example! Some people feel it is wrong to want to be wealthy, believing the only way you can become wealthy is by depriving others of what they need or want. Ridiculous! Yes, it is possible to become wealthy through selfish or even illegal means. But that is not really abundance. And the Universe has a way of restoring the right balance. If not in this lifetime then in the next. But often in this lifetime – there are so many cases of people who have acquired their wealth selfishly finding it is all frittered away in next to no time. The best way of becoming wealthy is by giving great value to others – who then add to your wealth in return. Do this properly and you will find you become truly wealthy in an abundant way.

“The Power of Listening is available to us all, only those who listen will gain great benefits in life, love personal & financial wealth. The decision is yours” Gray Lawrence

Get your mind straight on the true meaning of abundance and you too can have everything you truly desire. The Universe is truly abundant and is simply waiting to share that abundance with you. Go out now and accept that gift with gratitude rather than ungraciously continually to throw it back in the face of the Universe!

We can learn from our leaders of the past. Thomas Edison’s great optimism gives us a quintessential example of welcoming disaster. On a December night in 1914, fire broke out in the film room of Thomas Edison’s laboratory. As his assets were going up in smoke, it would seem that this sixty-seven-year-old man’s spirit would certainly be crushed. Instead he saw the fire and shouted to his son, “Where’s Mom? Go get her! Tell her to get her friends! They’ll never see a fire like this again!” Later, he said,

“You can always make capital out of disaster. We’ve just cleared out a bunch of old rubbish. We’ll build bigger and better on the ruins.”

Thomas Edison could not control the circumstances. Rather than being heartbroken to see his life’s work go up in flames, he chose to welcome the opportunity to start over. Edison, known for his overwhelming optimism, is an inspiration for us today.

Do you live with regrets? Are you able to put regret behind you easily?

Regret Is Not Your Friend

There are two sides to regret.

The first side involves regret for actions or events we wish had not happened and we would like to take back. We have all said or done things we regret. We may get upset and say things that damage our relationships or we may do things that cause harm. For example, Tiger Woods may regret his unfaithful conduct in his marriage.

I have done many things over my life that I regret, from investing in a scam to getting involved in a risky business venture to help out a friend. However, my regrets are now infrequent. Why? I took the time to identify the main causes of my actions and rooted them out. I had to learn to take responsibility for my contribution to my own troubles and to make values-based decisions, conducting myself in way that leaves little room for regret.

What about you? Think about the times when you felt regret. Is there a common theme? Do behaviours or habits contribute to your regret? What new thoughts or action steps could reduce your feelings of regret for the things you have said or done?

For the most part, the first type of regret can be tempered by time.

The second side of regret involves regret for actions not taken. This is the sin of omission. We must take this side of regret even more seriously because we cannot alter time to retrieve things that were missed: the job we did not take, the investment we ignored, or the opportunity we let pass by. The list can be long.

When I achieved the milestone birthday of 50 years, I felt a greater sense of urgency about all the things I wanted to do, despite my plan to live to 100+. I knew that it was my time to take action.

With keen awareness that mortality is universal and non-negotiable, I want to encourage every individual reading this article to take a stand:

“Starting today, I will live my life without regret, especially as it pertains to activities I want to experience and outcomes I wish to realize in my life.”

Here are a few areas you might wish to consider avoiding missing out on (and then later regretting):

§ Attending your child’s recital or concert

§ Beginning a regular fitness program

§ Travelling to that place you have been dreaming about for years

§ Taking that course to upgrade your skills—perhaps even getting the degree you have been contemplating

§ Trying a new food

§ Taking time for yourself

§ Quitting a job you hate

§ Calling a friend to share coffee or lunch

§ Attending the presentation or concert of someone (or group) you enjoy

§ Writing the article, poem, or book you’ve had percolating for ages

§ Joining the community group you’ve been thinking about

Unless material goods are directly linked to what you want to do or become, please don’t focus on them here. Yes, you can keep a list of the “things” you want to own, but putting a new painting on your wall may not be as meaningful as taking a vacation and having quality time with your family.

When have you said, “If only I had…?” Think about it for a moment. What do you wish you had done or become? What are you going to do about it? At this point, remorse won’t get you where you want to go; forward action will. Forget your excuses and make a decision to live your life without regret.

A research study conducted on individuals over 70 years of age asked participants these questions:

“If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently? What do you regret?”

The responses showed the following results:

§ They would take more time for themselves.

§ How many times have we met people who dedicated their whole life to others, at the expense of their own needs and goals?

§ They would take more risks.

§ This is the “if only” part of regret. “If only I had bought the property, taken that job, said ‘no’ to…” and on the story goes.

§ They would dedicate themselves to a cause or purpose that would last beyond their lifetime.

§ What’s your legacy? What will you be remembered for? Will you even be remembered at all?

A life lived without regret is living on purpose and making a difference, whatever the context. How do you rank yourself on a scale of 1 to 10? [1 = Poor (plenty of regret); 10 = Excellent (little or no regret)]

Let’s all strive to be as close to 10 as we can in all areas of our lives! Start now. No regrets, please!

ACTION STEPS:

1. List events in the past that have caused you to experience the most regret.Is there a common theme or set of situations where regret is recurring for you? What do you think the root cause(s) might be? What can you do to reduce your regret?

2. Think about all the things you regretnotWhat are your reasons for not taking action—lack of courage, not feeling worthy, compromising your values for others, etc.?

3. Make a list of things you can start doing immediately to reduce your regrets.Don’t make excuses for what you can’t do. Focus on what you can and will

7. Read my newest book,The Quest For Purpose. It will take you on a personal journey of discovery to help you confirm and affirm your passions in life.

8. Benchmark your gifts, talents, and passions by using CRG’s assessments.Your results will assist you to establish your beliefs with confidence, and increase your passion in all areas of your life.

Remember, our mortality is guaranteed. To those of you who are still procrastinating, I suggest you get started with your no-regrets philosophy this very moment. When you have no regrets, then you are truly living On Purpose!

Gray Lawrence

“The point is not to live without any regrets it is to not hate ourselves for having them..” Gray Lawrence

“Success is not accidental, it is intentional. Do something intentional everyday to create the success you want and deserve.” – Jim Palmer

“It is not important how we come to the events in our lives…what is important is how we deal with those events.” – Troy Evans

If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others…

I learned 13 years ago how precious life is, and how short it can be, when I was diagnosed with melanoma. Having cancer was a defining moment in my life and I realized that that no matter what goals and dreams I had – the time to make them happen was now. I still run my life and operate my various businesses with that same sense of urgency.

As a coach to entrepreneurs and small business owners, I hear about ideas for growth a lot. And whether the idea is based on a new product, a new or improved service, or perhaps even a new business – I’m often asked, “What is the best time to move forward?”

My answer is almost always the same: “Stop waiting for it to get easier, get into action now!”

The truth is, whether you want to operate with the same sense of urgency that I feel, as an entrepreneur I also realize that business and the way we market them changes at the speed of light. What I mean is that what’s hot or available today, may not be here tomorrow. To put a finer point on it, the product or service you want to bring to market may be attractive to customers now and could be far less attractive next year. Stop waiting for it to get easier.

The only thing waiting does is delay your success and your ability to create your own personal economic boom.

Thomas Edison learned to trust his vision about how electricity could change the world. Bill Gates learned the exact same thing about his vision of a computer on every desk and in every household. In retrospect, they might have both underestimated the results, but nevertheless, both became wildly successful. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard may not have had such lofty visions at the start of their enterprise, but they learned how to take the blinders off and follow the money.

Let me now address some lessons learned from a personal perspective. Post-cancer my life looks quite different. I have learned first-hand what the expression “When you have your health, you have everything” means. It is true. No matter what other challenges you face, facing them in good health is far easier.

My ‘season of crises’ – as I refer to it – has taught me three important life lessons.

I place a much higher priority on the important people in my life. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy some of the finer things in life, but they take a far back seat to the relationships I treasure and hold dear.

I strive every day to make a positive difference in the world by giving more of my time and money to those in need.

I laugh more. I’ve always enjoyed a good laugh, but I now love to laugh and make people laugh. Laughter is physically therapeutic and it also makes you forget some of the challenges you’re facing, if only for a second.

Jim Palmer

Jim Palmer is a marketing and business building expert and host of the hit weekly Web TV show, Newsletter Guru TV. Jim is also the host Stick Like Glue Radio, a weekly podcast on smart marketing and business building strategies. Jim is best known internationally as ‘The Newsletter Guru’- the go-to resource for maximizing the profitability of customer relationships.

Jim is the founder of Custom Newsletters, Incorporated, which is parent company of: No Hassle Newsletters; No Hassle Social Media; Success Advantage Publishing; Concierge Print and Mail on Demand; Custom Article Generator; Double My Retention, and NoHassleInfographics.com.

Jim is also the acclaimed author of five books: The Magic of Newsletter Marketing – The Secret to More Profits and Customers for Life; Stick Like Glue – How to Create an Everlasting Bond With Your Customers So They Spend More, Stay Longer, and Refer More; The Fastest Way to Higher Profits – 19 Immediate Profit-Enhancing Strategies You Can Use Today; It’s Okay To Be Scared – But Never Give Up; and Stop Waiting for it to Get Easier – Create Your Dream Business Today.

With 30 years of practical business experience, Jim speaks on client retention, how to run a profitable business, newsletter marketing and entrepreneur success tips.

How did Leonardo da Vinci make advances in anatomy, astronomy, and physics that were centuries ahead of scientific discovery—and still find time to paint the most iconic picture in history?

What did people like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein do to help them pioneer remarkable breakthroughs and accomplishments?

They all used unique meditation techniques and mental exercises.

And these days, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, the Dalai Lama, Gwyneth Paltrow, and other accomplished individuals from every background and field of endeavor do it too.

Meditation is the doorway to innovative thinking, knowing, being healthy, finding calm inner strength, and… quite frankly… living happily, productively, and abundantly in this world.

And—contrary to what you may think—you can do it almost anywhere… even when you’re driving!

You’ve probably heard this before…

Every answer you seek is already inside your mind.

If that is true (and, based on the amazing benefits listed above, I believe it is), how do you get to those answers and insights when you need them?

If the genuine solutions and guidance you need are already in your mind, why are they sometimes so darn difficult to find?

On the other hand…

As hard as it can be to access this genuine information, every now and then the knowledge and insights just come to you like magic.

Why doesn’t that happen more often? Or, more importantly, how can you make it happen at your command?

The reason you get stuck has little to do with what’s in your mind.

The problem is with what’s not in your mind.

What your brain does normally

The electrical activity of the brain is measured in terms of “waves.” That means if you hook your head up to a machine that measures the electrical output of your brain, you’ll see it form a wave on the screen.

Your brain produces five basic types of waves. They’re called Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. While this sounds like a college fraternity, it’s really a measure of how fast or slow your brain is working at any given time.

Now here’s where what’s not in your brain comes in…

During most of the day when you’re working, texting, emailing, driving, or doing anything active, your brain waves are primarily in a Beta pattern.

But, if you want to find a creative solution to a problem or receive insights or breakthrough ideas on a challenge you’re facing, your brain needs to slow down to a Theta, Alpha, or Theta-Alpha pattern. These types of patterns occur when you’re drowsy, relaxed, and reflective (but not sleepy), or in a state in which a silent current of thoughts, images, and memories emerge spontaneously in your mind.

The problem is, with updates and news coming at you by the minute, and distractions and temptations just a keystroke away, it can be very difficult to achieve these slower brainwave patterns during the course of a normal day.

The result? You often feel overwhelmed and off-balance.

The doorway to breakthrough thinking

How can you slow down your brain waves even when you’re surrounded by chaos and stimulation?

By doing what Jesus, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and many other brilliant individuals have done:

Develop your mental focus.

Mental focus enables you to shut out the noise that almost always surrounds you and to get calm in the center of the storm. It is the single best tool you have for releasing the power of your mind and allowing the answers, breakthroughs, and insights you seek to be heard.

The best way to develop laser-sharp focus is to meditate. Meditation—in all its various forms—is supported by decades of scientific research and backed up by centuries of real-life experiences. It is proven to help you let go of all the content that generally occupies your consciousness by slowing down your brain waves. With your mind clear, you can access the knowledge that’s locked inside.

The fastest way to access the miraculous haven inside your mind

At Nightingale-Conant, it has been our pleasure to work with some of the most incredible minds of our generation. After a while, we started to notice a common thread between many of our most successful authors…

The most successful, happy, and well-balanced people all have the power to focus their minds. By developing a focused mind, these individuals have been able to rise to incredible levels of achievement in just about every field.

But, slowing down your brain waves to have a focused mind can be challenging—even for the experts! That’s especially true with the stresses and constant stimulation of modern life. Now, more than ever, you need to develop ways to gain instant access to the calm, all-knowing haven that’s inside your mind.

It’s an advanced mind-training program that combines meditation and mental exercises in a whole new way so you can develop laser-sharp focus like some of the greatest thinkers of all time and perform as never before…

The Power is from within, the choice is yours Gray Lawrence "Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." Nido Qubein